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(No ModeL) F. L. BRASHEAR. DRUGGISTS AND GHEMISTS MORTAR.

No. 507,410. Patented 001;. 24, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. BRASHEAR, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO HUGH H. MARTIN AND ROBERT MCOALMONT, OF SAME PLACE.

DRUGGISTS AND CHEMISTS MORTAFI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,410, dated October 24, 1893.

Application filed October 24, 1892. Serial No. 449,828. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED L. BRAsHEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Druggists and Chemists Mortars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to the construction of mortars, such as are used by druggists, chemists, and apothecaries in mixing and compounding drugs and medicines; and it has for its object to increase the capacity of the old style mortars without enlarging the size of the bowl, to facilitate the mixing of granular and powdered substances, to prevent the overflow and slopping of liquids, and to facilitate the pouring out of the contents. I secure these objects by the form and construction of the bowl of the mortar as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a top,plan View, and Fig. 2 a central, Vertical section of the mortar, and Fig. 3 a detail of the lip or spout in perspective, as seen from the inside of the bowl.

Like figures of reference indicate the same features in the different views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 denotes the body or bowl of the mortar, having a suitable stand or base 2. Exteriorly this bowl may be of any preferred shapepr configuration, but the interior is preferably of true hemispherical contour.

The numeral 3 indicates the upper edge or rim of the bowl, and 4 denotes the pouring lips or spout; and it is to the form and construction of these features of the mortar which my invention more especially relates.

In the mixing and compounding of drugs and medicines with the old style mortars, druggists and apotheoaries are greatly annoyed by the creeping or working of all granular or powdered materials over the edge of the bowl, due to the action of the pestle in forcing the contents up around the sides,

causing much waste of the materials, the soiling of the hands and clothing, and the scattering of the powders over the work counter or table. Difficulty is also experienced in obtaining a thorough intermixture of such substances, rendering it necessary to cant the mortar from side to side, and to resort to various expedients to assist in keeping the contents into the center of the bowl. In the handling of liquids also, great difficulty is encountered in preventing the contents from slopping over and splashing out during the mixing operation; while in pouring out liquids it requires an expert to prevent spilling and dripping from the lip. By the use of my improvement, however, these difficulties are entirely overcome; the thorough intermixture of powders is greatly facilitated, and waste and dirt prevented; the capacity of the mortar is increased, and the pouring out of liquids rendered safe and easy.

Instead of running the inner side of the bowl straight up to the rim, as in the old style of druggists mortars, I provide it with a reentrant lip or flange 5 overhanging the inner wall of the bowl. This overhanging lip extends entirely around the rim, and also projects over the edges of lip or spout opening, as shown at 6 in all the figures. I also form the lip opening in the rim with practically straight sides, as indicated at 7 in Figs. 1 and 3, instead of forming it of a generally V- shape, as heretofore. The bottom of the lip is also given a steep incline or slant extending from a point slightly below the overhanging ledge straight to the point, which, together with the straight side edges and the overhanging flanges, give to this feature a shape approximating that of a funnel.

The construction being as thus described, it will be understood that, as the material is worked up the sides of the bowl by the postle, it will be deflected toward the center, and will roll over or fall back onto the pestle. This action continuing as long as the mixing is kept up, renders the intermixture of the substances practically automatic. Moreover, with the old style of mortar, it required constant attention to keep the material from running over the edge; while with my improve ment twice the amount of stud may be worked up at one operation without; any liability to overflow.

The advantages of the overhanging ledge and the peculiar formation of the pouring lip have already been referred to, and will be readily appreciated without further explana- I am aware that it is old to make a mortar of bowl-shape, the mortar being widest at about its center and from thence the walls curved upwardly and inwardly. In my improved mortar the vessel is so shaped that the walls diverge outwardly from the bottom to nearly the top or rim, the mortar being widest at this point, and the rim is provided with an inwardly projecting and overhanging flange, as before described.

FRED L. BRASIIEAR.

\Vitnesses:

R0131. MCCALMONT, HENRY N. HUNTINGTON. 

